XN000022-1996-01-15 — Page 6

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"To facilitate the delivery of completed enrolment forms to the Secretariat, the office will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday (January 21) which is the deadline for submission of enrolment forms," the spokesman added.

The TCM Practitioner Sub-Committee of PCCM will notify each applicant in writing as to whether his/her application is accepted.

End

Index of industrial production for third quarter of 1995

The index of industrial production for the third quarter of 1995 increased slightly by 0.7% over the same quarter of 1994, according to the results of a survey released today (Monday) by the Census and Statistics Department. This represented continued increases for five consecutive quarters.

The production in the industry group of electrical and electronic products. machinery, professional equipment and optical goods continued to surge by 12%. Within this group, the production of machinery, equipment, apparatus, parts and components increased significantly by 21.3%, but the production of consumer electrical and electronic products decreased slightly by 1.2%.

A slight increase of 0.9% was also recorded in the wearing apparel (except footwear) industry.

On the other hand, a decrease of 8.8% was registered in the industry group of chemical, rubber, plastic and non-metallic mineral products. Within this group, the production of plastic products decreased markedly by 18.6%.

Decreases were also recorded in the industry groups of basic metals and fabricated metal products (-6.7%); paper products and printing (-3.1%); textiles (including knitting) (-1.7%); and food, beverages and tobacco (-0.6%).

Compared with the second quarter of 1995, the index of industrial production showed a notable increase of 11.7%. This incrcase was, however, partly seasonal as manufacturing activities usually entered into peak season in the third quarter.

The index of industrial production reflects changes of local manufacturing output in real terms. In other words, it measures the volume of local production after discounting the effect of price changes.